Metallic cross-tie and rail-clamp.



H. S. KILBOURNE, METALLIC (moss TIE AND RAILOLAMP. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 3, 1908.

- 931,622. Patented Aug. 17, 1909;

IENRYSZ K'z z y i'y r m f4 g BY I ATTORNEYS H. S. KILBOUBNE.

PatentedjAug. 17, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2. n4.

INVENTOH filmy SJQLB UZIHNE' ATTOHNE rs METALLIG GROSS TIE AND RAILGLAMP. APPLIOA'TION FILED NOV. 8, 1908. 93 1,622.

H. S. K'ILBOURNE. METALLIC (moss TIE AND RAIL CLAMP.

APPLIGATION FILED NOV. 3, 1908.

INVEN r03 fiEA/HY 51 fQLEDZfENE 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Patented Aug. 17,1909.

.W/TNE SSES A 7TORNE Y8 ANDREW. B. GRAHAM o0 PHOTO-UNOGRAPHR& WASNIXDTON o. c.

HENRY SAYLES KILBOURNE, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

METALLIC CROSS-TIE AND RAIL-CLAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 1'7, 1909.

Application filed November 3, 1908. Serial No. 460,842.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY SAYLES KIL- comma a citizen of the United States, and a resident of IVashington, in the District of Columbia, have made certain new and useful light weight but which is strong and durable. In carrying out this ob ect I make use of I-beams of standard sizes and shapes, thereby reducing the cost of manufacture.

A further object of my invention is to 'provide a cross-tie which has a relatively large bearing surface but which requires but few bolts, the main connecting member being a clamp of a peculiar form hereinafter described.

A further object of my invention is to provide a cross-tie which has adjustable rail clamping means, and which when mutilated by an accident, such as derailment, may be reversed and used to as good advantage practically as before.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification and will be particularly pointed out in the annexed claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view of the tie and clamping means. Fig. 2 is a plan view. Fig. 3 is an enlarged section along the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. l is an enlarged plan view of a tie clamp. Fig. 5 is a section through the device showing the clamp in its open and closed position. Fig. 6 is a plan View showing a modified form of clamp.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view along the line 7-7 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a View of another modification. -Fig. 9 is a sectional view along the line 99 of Fig. 8, and Fig. 10 shows a washer for use with my improved clamp.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 I have shown therein a portion of a track equipped with my improved tie. The latter comprises a pair of I-beams A and B of standard make and of dimensions adapted to the weight and size of the rails. The I- beams are placed with their respective upper and lower flanges in contact as shown in Fig. 3. In order to bind these members in position I make use of a clamp C which is in one piece, being made preferably of mild steel. It has a thickened portion 0 at one end, which is provided with a recess a and a lug 0 The extension 0 is long enough to enable the clamp to span both of the I-beams. The ends of the clamp thus described are bent around to form the hook-shaped members a and 0 which engage the outside flanges of the I-beams A and B in the manner clearly shown in the drawings.

To look the clamp in position I provide the single bolt D having an elongated head cl, rounded on its upper inner edge at cl to fit the corner underneath the outer flange of one of the I-beams. The bolt D passes through an elongated slot 0 in the clamp and is secured by a nut d which bears on a washer E seated in the recess 0.

As an additional strengthening and bracing member I provide a short I-beam F underneath the rail seats. This is of special form as shown in Fig. 3 and is adapted to closely fit the inner sides of the flanges of the I-beams A and B. The bolt G passes through the member F and the I-beams A and B securely holding these parts together.

The clamp has an integral lug 0 adapted to fit over the top of the flange r of the rail R. The edge of this lug is beveled at h so that the lug may be forced into engagement with the inclined face of the flange 1" to hold the rail in position. The clamp may be adjusted to and from the rail as shown in Fig. 5 to permit the engagement of the lug by reason of the elongated slot 0 This is accomplished by loosening the nut on the bolt D and driving the clamp away from the rail or up to it as desired. To facilitate the movement of the clamp on the I-beams I round the outer edges (1- and Z2 of the latter as shown in Fig. 3, thereby reducing the friction.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I have shown a modified construction in which the bolt D, which secures the clamp to the I-beams, passes through the latter at their inner contacting edges. The raised portion 0 is centrally disposed and has the recess 0 and washer E. In this form the bolt D just clears the outer end of the central I-beam F.

In Figs. 8 and 9 there is illustrated a modified construction in which the clamp does not have to be moved away from the ail in order to release thelatter. In these figures instead of providing the clamp with the engaging lug c for holding the rail R, I arrange a U-shaped bearing plate P, which spans the clamp in the manner shown in Fig. 9, one leg 7) being in contact with the npper edge or the I-beam A, while the other leg 7) is provided with a beveled surface arranged to engage the flange r of the rail. The bearing member P is provided with a slot 79* adapted to receive the bolt D. lVith the construction described, when the clamp is up close to the rail the bearing plate maybe forced down intoposition with the leg 2) in engagement with the rail flange by tightening the nut d". By removmg the nut (Z the plate P may be lifted vertically thereby releasing the rail without moving the clamp.

In Fig. 101 have shown a washer E which may be used with my invention. The washer is provided with a bolt hole 0, which is located at one side of the center as shown inthe figure. Owing to the location of the bolt hole at one side of the center, the washer may-beturned around upon the bolt D so that in any position of the clamp it will practically fill the recess 0 in the clamp. An inspection of Fig. 10 will show that the bolt hole a is located at different distances from-the four edges of the washer. There will'therefore be four adjustments with one washer and in practice two washers with their bolt holes disposed at different distances from the center will be used,thereby giving eight difi'erent adjustments, and as the movement of the clamp is a slight one,

it-will be seenthat a washer can beprovided which-will at all times approximately fillthe recess-in any of the adjusted positions of the clamp.

In case of mutilation by derailment or from any other cause the I-beams may be reversedby providing the base flanges with slots to accommodate thebolt D. It will be seen that I have provided a tie which can be-made cheaply owing=to-the use of standard parts,:requires few connecting members such as bolts, etc, is of comparatively light weight while having a maximum strength and which moreover has an adjustablerailholding means that effectually secures the ail against movement.

I am aware that other forms of the device based upon the same idea might be made, but Tregard as my own and desire to claim all such modifications as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of'the invention.

I claim 1. The combination with a rail, of a cross tie comprising a pair of parallel I-beams adapted to support said rail, an adjustable clamp arranged to engage the outer flanges of said I-beams to'hold said beams together, a third I-beam disposed beneath the rail seat,'1neans for holding all of said beams together, and means carried by said clamp for engaging the flange of said rail to secure the latter.

2. The combination with a rail, of a cross tie comprising a pair of parallel I-beams adapted to support said rail, an adjustable clamp arranged to engage the outer-flanges of said I-beams to hold said beams together, a third Lbeamdisposed beneath the rail seat and having upper and lower surfaces arranged to conform to the upper and lower flanges respectively of the parallel I-beams for supporting the latter, and means carried by said clamp for engaglng the flange of said rail to secure the latter.

3. The combination with a rail, of a cross tie comprising a pair of parallel slotted I-beams adapted to support said rail, an adjustable clamp having a main body portion provided with a slot and hooked portions adapted to engage the outer flanges of said I-beams to hold the beams together, a third I-beam disposed beneath the rail seat, and means disposed in registering slots in said clamp and one of said I-beams for securing the clamp in position.

at. The combination with a rail, of a cross tie comprisng a pair of parallel slotted I-beams adapted to support said rail, an ad justable clamp having a main body portion provided with a recess and having a slot and hooked portions adapted to engage the outer flanges of said I-beams to hold the beams together, a third I-beam disposed beneath the rail seat, an adjustable washer carried in the recess in said clamp, and a'bolt disposed in the registering slots of said clamp and one of said I-beams and adapted to bear upon said washer for securing the clamp in posit-ion.

5. The combination with a rail, of a cross tie comprising a pair of parallel I-beams adapted to support said rail, a clamp arranged to engage the outer flanges of'said I-boams to hold said beams together and adapted to movezlongitudinally thereof, said clamp beingprovided with a lug arranged to engage the rail flange, and -means for securing said clamp'in its adjusted positions.

HENRY SAYLES KILBOURNE. lVitnesses W'. J. CAWTHON, T. TV. MATTHEWS. 

